How ‘Quantico’ Star Priyanka Chopra Got More Social Media Followers Than Madonna

Which of the following has Indian actress Priyanka Chopra not done yet? A) Been crowned Miss World. B) Recorded a hit single with Pitbull. C) Produced a documentary. D) Written an op-ed for The New York Times. E) Starred in more than 50 film and TV productions. The answer? C. But only because the opportunity hasn't arisen—yet. Priyanka is the Energizer Bunny of actresses, if, that is, the Energizer Bunny ran on drive, ambition, and conviction.

As the 34-year-old sees it, though, her resume is still in draft form. "Success is always about what's next," says Priyanka. "I don't settle and I don't stop." Clearly, she's a woman of her word. The previous day's shoot for Quantico lasted 16 hours, well into dawn's light. But here she is, perky, warm, and welcoming. Where, pray tell, does she summon the energy?

Priyanka smiles knowingly, as if she's been asked this before. "My career is very important to me," she quips, flashing a white smile that hardly backs up her claim. "No one's forcing me to do it. Also? I drink a lot of coffee." But then she quickly turns serious. "People always say you should listen to your body. But I don't listen to my body. My body listens to me. I can't afford to be sick or low on energy. It's mind over matter: I'm going to have a good day, and not in that fake 'Happy girls are the best girls!' way. Identify the weaknesses, shut them in a box, find your strengths, and run with them."

This determination is likely one reason that she—already one of the most famous women in India—has become the first South Asian actress to star in a network TV show in the U.S. And why, online, she boasts 15 million followers on Twitter and 10.5 million on Instagram. (For perspective, Madonna has a mere nine million on both platforms combined.)

This star power is impressive, considering Priyanka hadn't dreamed of a career in show business. Growing up, the brainy brunette had planned to become an engineer. But then she won a few local pageants as a teen…which led to Miss World…which led to producers and directors approaching her about television and film projects.

As the child of two doctors in India, she was instilled with an authentic and personal commitment to giving back to those who have less. "My dad used to have two beds in the hospital free of cost for anyone who couldn't afford surgery or treatment," she says. "As people, my brother and I were raised like that."

Today, she donates 10 percent of her earnings to a foundation she started that supports the health and education of underprivileged children in India. She's a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. She funded a cancer ward for a hospital in Mumbai. She's spoken alongside Bill Clinton and Steve Wozniak at a World Leaders Education First conference. Not surprising, then, that this year she was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in the world for being a role model.

She's also a proud feminist. "In India, there's a lot of disparity between boys and girls," she says. "But if my parents treated me differently, I would not be where I am today." And that gift of equality is one she'd like to pay forward. (Her New York Times op-ed argued the importance of education for women; in her role with UNICEF, she speaks to young women about empowerment.)

Watch our behind-the-scenes video with Priyanka:

​

​

Of course, equality hasn't always been handed to her. When ABC approached Priyanka in 2014 with the prospect of working together, she responded with careful terms: "I'm used to playing the lead and I don't want to compromise." Enter Quantico's Alex Parrish, an FBI recruit (and suspected terrorist) whose complexity—not ethnicity—is central to the show's plot. Priyanka's insistence on a role that mattered and on not being just the Token Beautiful Indian Girl comes from an experience early in her career when a producer told her that actresses were interchangeable. He said, and Priyanka quotes, "'If it's not you we'll get another one, and if it's not her I'll launch a new girl.' That stuck to me, and it happens," she says, her brow furrowing. "I never want to be replaceable."

For more on what Priyanka's plans for the future are, pick up the November issue of Women's Health, on newsstands now.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Women's Health participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.